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How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in California

California calls it the Certificate of Status and charges $5. Here is how to order it and what must be current first.

At a glance

Document name
Certificate of Status
State fee
$5Checked Aug 22, 2026 · bpd.cdn.sos.ca.gov
Online ordering
Yes
Typical turnaround
Within minutes online
Issuing office
California SOS ↗

How to order it

  1. Clear any past-due filings first. Check your entity status with the California SOS and resolve the requirements below. Tax clearance may be a separate document.
  2. Order it online. Search your LLC in the California portal, request the certificate, and download it. Link in the table above.
  3. Pay the $5 fee. Confirm payment methods and the total in the official portal; extra fees may apply.
  4. Use it inside the recipient's window. The certificate has no state expiration, but banks and other states usually want one dated within the last 30 to 90 days. Order it close to when you need it.

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$69 service fee, plus the California state fee shown above · A filing service, not a registered agent. Ordering it yourself is cheaper and the steps above are the whole process.
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Full ordering details for California

California issues a "Certificate of Status" through the Secretary of State at $5 online via the bizfile portal at bizfileOnline.sos.ca.gov. The certificate certifies the entity status (active/good standing, suspended, dissolved, cancelled, etc.). For corporations, LLCs, and limited partnerships, certificates are available within minutes online. In-person drop-off at 1500 11th Street, Sacramento adds a $15 special handling fee but gets prioritized. Mail filings send to Secretary of State, Certification and Records, P.O. Box 944260, Sacramento CA 94244-2600. The Certificate of Status is separate from FTB tax status - both must be in good standing.

Processing and expedited tiers: same-day in-person ($15 special handling); ~5 business days mail

Important to know about California

  • California has dual compliance: the Secretary of State issues the Certificate of Status, but the LLC must also be in good standing with the Franchise Tax Board (FTB). The certificate reports whatever the current status is, so an "FTB Suspended" or "FTB Forfeited" LLC receives a certificate that says suspended, which no bank or state will accept as good standing.
  • Many third-party guides cite incorrect fees - some say $50 (outdated), some say $20. The official fee per the CA Secretary of State is $5 per entity, online or by mail. Documents dropped off in person carry a separate $15 special handling fee.
  • California requires the $800 minimum annual franchise tax to be paid before the FTB will clear your status. New LLCs formed in 2024 or later owe the $800 in their first year (the AB 85 first-year exemption expired Dec 31, 2023).
  • Keep the Statement of Information current ($20, first one within 90 days of formation or registration, then every 2 years). A missed statement draws a $250 penalty and, left unfiled, leads to suspension, which a Certificate of Status would then report.

Ordering this to register in another state?

A certificate of good standing from California is what the new state asks for when your California LLC registers to do business there. Pick the state you are expanding into to see its exact filing, fee, and process.

Find your state-to-state guide · Registering an out-of-state LLC into California instead?

Related guides

Sources 6 pages

The official pages behind the figures on this page, with the date we last read each one. How we check.

Fees and costs

Deadlines and processing

Forms and filing

This page provides general information based on publicly available California Secretary of State requirements. It is not legal advice. Names, fees, and procedures can change. Verify with the California SOS before ordering.